The mystery, not to mention not so well-kept secret, of why Ryan Johnston left the 980WCAP airwaves in August has finally been “solved.”

The 24-year veteran of the local station was officially named Bruins Radio Play-by-Play Announcer this morning by 98.5 The Sports Hub, the radio home of Boston’s NHL franchise.

Johnston was long rumored to be headed for the B’s broadcast booth after their television play-by-play announcer left following the 2023-24 season.

That position instead went to Judd Sirott, which opened up the radio slot and made Johnston an instant favorite to land that gig.

On top of his WCAP duties, the sports radio veteran has been with The Sports Hub since 2009. He’s been the Play-By-Play Fill-In on 98.5 and The Boston Bruins Radio Network since 2010. Johnston has been the main host of the station’s Saturday morning “Sports Hub Hockey Show.”

He came to Lowell in 2000 and became a mainstay on WCAP. Most recently, he hosted the afternoon drive show until August, when he “mysteriously disappeared” from the local broadcast. The expectation was he had landed the Bruins gig and the only thing delaying the news was an official announcement from the hockey club and its radio home.

Johnson, who lives in Dracut, credits the time at WCAP for helping shape his career and prepare him for the new role.

“I’m thankful to the owners and listeners of WCAP for all the years of support,” Johnston told InsideLowell. “My time in Lowell helped me grow as both a play-by-play broadcaster and as a talk show host. While I’m moving on to my dream job, I know that none of this would be possible without the experience I gained on WCAP.”

Apart from his daily news/talk show duties in the Mill City, the Syracuse University graduate has spent much of his career in Sports Broadcasting. He called Boston College hockey on the Sports Hub for two seasons, while also handling the Play-by-Play duties for the Beanpot tournament and the Hockey East semifinal and championship games that were carried on the station. He spent nine seasons as the voice for The Lowell Lock Monsters and Lowell Devils AHL franchises, and also called baseball games for the Lowell Spinners from 2003-2006

Since 2012 Johnston has done freelance college hockey play-by-play, calling games for UMass Lowell, Merrimack College and The University of New Hampshire on NESN, ESPN+ and Fox Sports. He is a past recipient of the Massachusetts /Rhode Island Associated Press Award for Best Play-By-Play.

“This is truly my dream job, and I could not be more excited for this opportunity,” Johnston said in a statement released by the Boston station and the Bruins. “I’m thankful to the management team at 98.5 The Sports Hub and the Bruins organization for putting their faith in me. I’m fortunate to work alongside Bob Beers, who is one of the best analysts in the NHL. Really looking forward to the season and providing listeners with the quality broadcast they’ve come to expect.”

“We are excited to welcome Ryan as the new radio voice of the Bruins,” said Cam Neely, President of the Boston Bruins, in the same press release. “Ryan comes into this role with a deep familiarity and knowledge of the Boston Bruins team, fans and organization, and we are confident he will bring a fresh perspective on-air.”